Lot 40216 – 1840 2d deep full blue pl.1 EA-EF strip of 6, DI-DL strip of 4 and DG single on entire from Ireland to Trieste, Austria

1840 2d deep full blue pl.1 EA-EF strip of 6, DI-DL strip of 4 and DG single on entire from Ireland to Trieste, Austria, each neatly and uniformly cancelled by a fine strike of the black Maltese Cross, with Ballycastle 13 4 41 despatch along with Dublin, London and Paris transits and finally a Trieste 26 AVR arrival.

The senders prepayment of 1s10d was correct and intended to be forwarded from London by Thames Packet via Hamburg (1/8 for letters out of London, 1/10 for letters originating beyond London). The foreign Office however decided to send the letter via France (for this route 1/7 would have been sufficient, although only prepaid to the Swiss or German border e.g. the French offices of Huningen or Forbach). This route was confirmed by the Paris marking “A.T.F”. In Trieste the letter was charged “38” kreuzer C.M. (Convention currency), to be split up in 14 kreuzer domestic charge (tariff on foreign incoming letters 1817-1842) + 10 kreuzer Swiss and 14 kreuzer French transit, the latter being prepaid, but neglected by the Austrians.

A truly remarkable multiple franking from Ireland.

Expertise: Cert. Brandon (1999) and Van Der Linden (1999).

Provenance: Sugden, Burrus, Koehler auction (1968), “Emerald”.